Dairy is good for metabolic health, according to a new study. In addition to benefiting metabolic health, a new study also indicates that dairy consumption can help to lower the risk of metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Dairy is a vital part of a balanced, healthy diet and dietary guidelines suggest a daily consumption of two to four portions of milk-based products, including milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and cream. The calcium and minerals found in dairy products is essential for bones.

Researchers from CHU de Québec Research Center and Laval University studied dietary eating habits among healthy French-Canadians and studied how dairy consumption could affect participants’ overall metabolic health. Findings from the study were published on September 16, 2014, in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

The goal of the study was to find links between dairy intake and certain metabolic risk factors, such as anthropometric status, plasma glucose, plasma lipid profile, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers among healthy individuals.

There were a total of 254 participants from the greater Quebec City metropolitan area in the study, and 233 participants (105 men and 128 women) met the eligibility criteria for the study, indicating that they had healthy metabolic profiles.

Approximately 45 percent of study participants did not meet Canada’s Food Guide recommendations of a minimum of two portions of dairy products each day. The findings are enhanced by recent Canadian surveys that suggest under consumption of dairy products among Canadians.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis affects roughly 1.4 million Canadians. The same source also indicates that osteoporosis and low bone mass are presently estimated to be a major public health threat for nearly 44 million men and women aged 50 and over in the U.S.